Bringing the Youth Hub to life

THERE is no group of people more important than any other in our community.

Equality and diversity are two of the key elements that make a thriving community, and it is our shared voices that complement one another in everything that we do.

With that said, I have always thought it is important to have a strong focus on the younger members of our society, as often their ideas and views on various subjects provide vital insights that might otherwise be missed.

To do that in the right way means it is necessary to provide a platform for our youth to speak in a way that allows their voices to be heard.

That is why the development of the Geelong Youth Hub is such an incredible project.

And, importantly, the first community engagement phase actively sought feedback from young people, youth service providers, parents, teachers and the local community to inform the future of the hub.

Council’s commitment to establishing the Geelong Youth Hub stems from collaborative efforts with the Youth Council during the development of the Geelong Youth Hub Feasibility Study in 2022.

Positioned within the Busport building, the hub will undergo a two-year pilot phase from January 2025 until December 2026.

This project has been made possible thanks to the support of the Victorian Government via a $400,000 grant from its Youth Hubs program for 2022-23.

This initiative underscores our commitment to providing a dedicated space for youth activities and support services in central Geelong, and the feedback from the engagement will play a major role in shaping the way the hub looks.

Issues such as the space layout, desired support services, activity offerings, and ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all youth were raised throughout the process, which included online surveys, two co-design workshops, community events, and school engagements.

Around 500 young people shared their perspectives on various aspects of the Geelong Youth Hub, but what I loved seeing almost more than anything else was that 52 young people indicated their interest in being on the Hub youth-led Committee of Management.

For me this speaks volumes of our youth and the level of investment they have in our region’s future.

As I have highlighted many times throughout my short stint on Council, Geelong’s next generation of leaders are an inspiring group of people who are determined to have an impact on what the years ahead look like.

The co-design process now enters its next phase, where all of the feedback gathered until this point will be incorporated into the final plans for the Geelong Youth Hub.

Additional work to be undertaken includes developing the Hub’s governance and operational model, and design for construction, which is expected to commence mid-year.

Further engagement opportunities will include a youth hub naming competition, an expression of interest for young artists to produce public art, and the establishment of a youth-led Committee of Management.

As our youth Council has shown time and again, including with the presentation of its most recent report at our March Council meeting, the City’s future is in safe hands, and I am so excited to see this space come to life.

Cr Sarah Hathway

Windermere Ward, City of Greater Geelong